A performance that generates a huge standing ovation and a bunch of 10s from the judges is a yawn? After seeing this in Skate America I knew the program had potential to be great and the changes they made along with the additional characterization especially by Charlie really made this performance special. Alex Wong certainly helped with Charlie's greater expression here at the NHK. No one does better spins then Meryl & Charlie. Incredible! I think it more of a masterpiece than V&M's Carmen that really isn't the story of Carmen at all, but some sexual presentation with ugly lifts.

I do like V&M's Carmen, but I do agree with you about the lifts. I do not get how a team who has beautiful line and positions as they do end up with such terrible lifts.

Meryl and Charlie were gorgeous. They do need to get higher levels on those step sequences though and fast...before the GPF. Last year they got level 4s on EVERYTHING and thats what they need. The last minute of that program is just beautiful though. all those lifts that go so well with the music and the story. Charlie seemed to show a little more passion and emotion at SA...I would like to see him maintain that level of performance.

Have to say, side by side, I love Notre Dame more than Carmen right now, but might change my mind by worlds.

First thing I want to say about this FD: 96 for I/K has been just disgusting!! Considering the scores that B/S and C/L received it was aburde: almost 51 for the PCS! It's maybe my problem, but there's nothing I like in their FD after the first 30 second... I just can't get why they receive so high scores... They are Morozov skaters?
Then that I'm happy for the Shibs, they deserved the silver medal! I like this program but maybe I expected too much from them, so I can't fully appreciate it...
And I liked D/W a lot more than at SA, but my favourite FD of the season remains V/M's Carmen!

First thing I want to say about this FD: 96 for I/K has been just disgusting!! Considering the scores that B/S and C/L received it was aburde: almost 51 for the PCS! It's maybe my problem, but there's nothing I like in their FD after the first 30 second... I just can't get why they receive so high scores... They are Morozov skaters?
Then that I'm happy for the Shibs, they deserved the silver medal! I like this program but maybe I expected too much from them, so I can't fully appreciate it...
And I liked D/W a lot more than at SA, but my favourite FD of the season remains V/M's Carmen!

To be fair RE: The Shibs, this was their second outing with it; I expect much improvement by later in the season. In fact, as usual, they manage to make quite a bit of improvement in the two weeks since COR.

From Ice Network:

Ilinykh and Katsalapov's routine to music from The Ghost featured Level 4 twizzles and lifts and a Level 4 spin, while the footwork earned a Level 2 and 3.

The reigning European bronze medalists achieved a new season's best as well with 95.66 points and moved up one spot to second, finishing with 156.62 points.

"Today was a tough day. Lena suffered from a kind of (food) poisoning. I found out about it just shortly before we skated," Katsalapov revealed. "It was a shock for the whole team, and everybody tried to help her, and me, too."

So sorry for Elena. Glad she managed to do the dance and well. FWIW, I do think Elena and Nikita do perform the heck out of that FD, so I think that does help them get a boost in the PCS.

If history is any indication, D/W always peaked and gold at GPF, but V/W (when they have a full season) beat them at the big ones World and Olympic. I think D/W get the technical part down much quicker than V/W who may be paying more attention to connection and chemistry first and then improve on the technical side for the big events.

Originally Posted by Mrs. P

I do like V&M's Carmen, but I do agree with you about the lifts. I do not get how a team who has beautiful line and positions as they do end up with such terrible lifts.

V/M lifts are not pretty but appropriate for the program which is aiming for raw and naked emotions. I think smooth and Waltz like type of lifts will not fit.

V/M lifts are not pretty but appropriate for the program which is aiming for raw and naked emotions. I think smooth and Waltz like type of lifts will not fit.

When I say pretty, I don't mean ballerina/waltz positions. I still think they could better take advantage of their great line and posture in their lifts and work them to reflect the power/intensity of the program. Intense/raw does not justify ugly lift positions.

D/W did peak at Worlds in 2011 when they won.

A pattern is a pattern until it breaks. I think in fact D/W are in a great position -- they still have some work to do on the tech, but I think they have a key opportunity to work on the PCS side more as well. We'll see!

I do like V&M's Carmen, but I do agree with you about the lifts. I do not get how a team who has beautiful line and positions as they do end up with such terrible lifts.

It may be because Moir either isn't strong or tall enough to smoothly lift Virtue up and around his shoulders, all the while staying vertical and fast on the ice. IMO it always looks like a struggle for both of them. I'm beginning to wonder if ice dance is becoming a bit too gymnastic. Wouldn't want it to revert to what it looked like back in the 80's but I think the lifts are soon going to require that all male partners have the build of pairs male skaters (maybe even more powerful).